Chapter 14

Neil

Office work is hectic, and it's even more if you add just two days' holiday to it. Along with that, the constant teasing is like the worst nightmare.

I'm happy that finally the day is over and I can get home as soon as possible. Thinking this, I went into my office parking lot, reached towards my car, sat in it, and drove in the direction of my home.

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As soon as I entered my home, I was greeted with the most unexpected people and view, and by people, I mean my in-laws.

Now don't bash at me; I'm newly married, and I rarely even have people looking at me as soon as I enter.

And by the view, I'm referring to my lady serving food on the dining table.

Now let me tell you why this is unexpected, simply because normally it's my brother doing the serving.

"Good evening, Neil." Mama and papa together greeted me.

"Good Evening Mumma ; good evening Papa." I greeted them back.

"Arey, Neil, it's good that you came; go and freshen up fast and come down; see, we still have to do dinner; also, your wife has made the sweet dish; go fast and come fast." dad said, and then did something I didn't expect from him.

He winked at me.

Ignoring his really weird behaviour, or in other words, Sid's influence, I gave him a quick nod and went towards my room.

I quickly entered the room, nearly tripping at the entrance, and went towards the closet, and as soon as I opened it, it gave me a minor heart attack.

Everything is freaking changed! My clothes are placed neatly on one side.

But still, I didn't expect this to be the look of the closet,

And it's all because, in my list of the things that would change after marriage, this was not listed, but no problem; I guess I'll manage it.

Thinking so, I quickly took some casual clothes, went to freshen up and change, and then came back down, all within a span of 30 minutes, I guess.

People say that only women are high maintenance, but I believe that sometimes it is the other way around, and it's with me.

Okay, enough with the chit-chat; as I walk down the stairs, I am greeted by the sight of everyone seated at the dining table.

"Bro, come fast; otherwise, you won't get the sweet made by your lovely wife."  Sid said giving me a playful smirk.

This brother of mine...

"Yes, dear brother, don't worry, I will never miss anything made by my lovely wife!" I answered in the same tone, and at the very next moment, I heard Kiara coughing very hard.

Uh-oh, Neil, bad timing for the adjective

"Kiara, what happened, dear? Sid, pass the glass of water fast." Mom half-yelled at him in a concerned tone.

"Kia, calm down. Look up. Shhh. Here, take some water." Mumma handed her the glass, taking it from Sid while smoothly rubbing her back.

And finally, she was back to normal.

"Kiara, dear, you're fine, right?" Papa asked her with a concerned-filled voice while she gave him a quick nod.

"Ok everyone, I guess Kiara is fine now. Let us have our dinner." Dad announced, and we all nodded before taking our respective seats while Sid and Kiara began to serve everyone.

"This Malai Kofta is delicious, Priya. I guess you should take its recipe from Disha ji" Papa said to Mumma.

"You're right, Aatish. Disha Ji, I need your recipe." Mumma stated as she looked at Mom.

"Yeah, sure, Priya ji, I'll share it with you on WhatsApp." Mom said Mumma nodded, and we all again began to eat.

After that, we ate in silence since all four elders believe that whenever you are eating, you should give the food you're having your full attention.

Soon, we completed our dinner and sat in the living room for a chit-chat that was filled with laughter and happiness, along with some near-heart attack information for both me and Kiara.

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Kiara

Right now, I'm sitting in my room and remembering the nearly I-am-shocked-as-hell-coughing that was a literal nightmare.

Neil referred to me as his "lovely wife" I mean, he's insane or something, like yesterday, the day before, and the day before that, and all we've done in the last month is decide on the contract, sign it, and now follow it.

But it felt nice, and that was what made me choke and cough as if I was going to die the next moment.

Whatever happened, it doesn't matter anymore because our parents have decided to give us another mini-heart attack. And that is, our Honeymoon

flashback (living room)

We were talking about some random things when suddenly Mumma spoke.

"Disha ji, let's drop the bomb, what say?"

"Yes, Priya Ji, let's do it." Mom said, looking at me and Neil.

"Our dear mothers, what do you both have in mind?" Neil asked them.

"Yes, Mothers, please tell us as well." Dad and Papa said simultaneously.

"Ok everyone, we ain't keeping any surprises; we've planned a honeymoon trip for our new couple to Paris!" Mom said it, and Neil and I looked at each other in surprised and so did the fathers, before Sid literally whistled.

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present (in the bedroom)

And so, people, I'm here looking up places to visit in Paris.

Don't yell at me and call me crazy, okay?

I know that now I do not have the option of saying no and disheartening everyone, so I thought it was just better that I go and enjoy Paris. Anyway, it's been years since I have had an actual vacation.

So, this will be fun.

I was scrolling down the screen, deep in thought, when I heard the door open and close.

And there entered, my husband, Neil Khurana. He came forward and sat down on the other end of the bed.

"Hey Neil, so how are you?" I started the conversation.

"H...Hi Kiara, I'm actually in deep thought." he said.

"And what's your deep thought?" I asked.

"I'm actually thinking that how we'll go on a honeymoon like this isn't normal marriage, and we aren't a normal couple to have a honeymoon." he said, and I started giggling.

"Why are you laughing at me?" He asked me

"Be... Because you literally thought that if they said honey... honeymoon then we had to go and have a honeymoon we c... can have it like a tr... trip you know." I said while laughing.

"But what relation would we have? If it weren't for our marriage, we'd be strangers, and we don't even share a husband-wife equation." He said, and I agreed to someone for the first time.

"Yes, you're right. But I have a solution for it: since we have to live together for at least 6 months and being strangers for so long is so boring, why don't we be friends?" I suggested.

"Yaa, that's a great idea. So, Kiara Mehra Khurana, would you like to be my friend?" He said offering me a handshake and giving me a really cute smile.

Man, he has dimples!

"Sure, Mr. Neil Khurana!" I replied and accepted the handshake.

After that, we both sat down on the bed, and I again went towards my search, while Neil read something on his laptop. After a lot of time passed and everything, when I got up to put my laptop aside and go to sleep, I noticed that he was sitting in the same position as he had been for the past 1 hour.

damn workaholic

"You're a goddamn workaholic." I said to him.

"Yeah, sure I am." he replied, and again his attention went towards his laptop screen.

'Kia, maybe you should just go to sleep and let him do his work,' my mind suggested, and I realised it was correct.

When I went towards the bed to lie down, I saw that finally, this workaholic husband of mine had decided to leave his work and come and sleep, and then suddenly something popped in my mind.

"Neil?" I called out.

"Yes?"

"I actually wanted to ask you a question." I said as I sat straight.

"hmm."

"How did we sleep last night?" I asked him.

"What do you want to ask, Kiara?" He asked, clearly confused about the question.

"Like, did we sleep together or how did we sleep?" I clarified.

"Oh, don't worry, after you passed out, I made you lie down on the bed, and I slept on the couch there. Even now, I was going there to sleep." He told me, and to say I was shocked would be an understatement, because I was guilty.

"I'm so sorry that you had to sleep on a couch yesterday. Come, you sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch." I said, getting up to go near the couch.

"Kiara, it's not a big deal; I'll sleep on the couch. I promised your parents that you wouldn't have to face any discomfort, so how can I let you sleep on the couch?" He said, and I began to think again.

"I have an idea! Why don't we both sleep together on this bed? See, this is literally giant, and I don't even move while sleeping. Come, let's sleep together." I said, while tapping on the other side of the bed.

"Hmm, that's a great idea, but..."

"Don't worry, dear new friend, I won't land up on you in the morning. This ain't a Wattpad story." I said he nodded but was still in a state of doubt.

So I did what I could and picked up all the extra pillows and built "Kiara's Great Wall of Pillows," which made him smile, and he quickly came and lied on the other side and I lied on my side.

"So, Kiara, shall I switch off the lights?" He asked me, and I just hummed in response.

Let me tell you a fact about me: I'll sleep as soon as I lie down.

"Good night!" he wished, switching off the lights.

"Goooddd Nigghhtttttt." I said in a sleepy tone, and after that, I went into a deep slumber.

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"Kiara, wake up; it's already 7 a.m.; you'll be late for work; wake up, Kiara." I heard a voice, and also someone shaking me.

And then the realisation hit me!

I have to get to work!

Not wasting a single second after that, I quickly got up from the bed, hitting someone in the process and making him fall to the ground.

Oh, and the someone is my wonderful husband.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't pay attention, I'm so sorry, you're fine, right?" I apologised and asked him

"Yeah, sure, but I'm not in the habit of someone making me fall off the bed," he said,  sarcastically.

"Sorry, I would've justified myself a little more, but since it's late, I'll do it at night." I said as I dashed to the restroom.

"Sure! he replied, and then I heard the door open and shut.

I guess he went out.

After that, I quickly got ready, went downstairs, wished everyone had had a little breakfast while running, and also got an excellent hearing from Mom.

If you know, you know.

And then I went to my office to get ready for another day with the same case.

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Hey Lovely Readers!!

Happy New Year!

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Love,

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